Creating opportunities for creative talent to flourish

Posted on 02 November 2016

Everyone should have the chance to make the most of their creative talents. That’s why we supported the Renewal Trust to work with a group of young people from Nottingham who have a passion for music and dance, but who haven’t always had the opportunities they need. Working with the Renewal Trust and professional artists from Birmingham Royal Ballet, these young performers produced a new piece of contemporary dance inspired by one of Shakespeare’s most loved plays.

First steps

Twelve dancers from Nottingham aged between 13 and 20 successfully auditioned to be part of Nott Romeo and Juliet. They all had different skills and talents in dance and performance but very little formal training.

Every year Birmingham Royal Ballet tours the nation, putting world-class performances on the stages of theatres in Birmingham, Bristol, Nottingham, London, Plymouth, Salford, Southampton, and Sunderland.

Our Grants for the Arts funding for The Renewal Trust meant that professional artists from the company could expand their tour to work with the young people to create their own performance.

Projects like this are inspiring ambition, confidence, and determination.

This film about the making of Nott Romeo and Juliet sums up why creating opportunities like this in places where there hasn’t always been access to great art and culture is so important.